cjj wrote:Oh yeah, I know what you're talking about there! I'm usually hauling flatbeds with equipment or hay, but one time when I was pulling a dry van, empty of course, and hit a strong cross wind, man, those were some white knuckle miles for sure...
I do all dry van, 53 footers, what a joy to drive in the snow empty
Jim, love driving in Kansas when I'm empty, what a rollercoaster!
I certainly have had my share of white knuckle miles.
Re: Look out! El Nino is back!
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:15 am
by longboard_ric
Hi Kira
The nearby suburb of Mornington has a small harbour that is sheltered from all winds except N/NW's.
jimk wrote:
That episode was exceptional, though. Usually, during tornado season, the sky turns this pukey green color, and there's all kinds of thunder and lightning, and then it's over in an hour or two.
JimK
Yep, I hear it gets pretty bad out there, Kansas-way!
Total Side note : Lawrence is cool in my book (other than for the inimitable Jim Krause residing there ! ) because it was also home to famed Beat author William S. Burroughs in his later years.
Re: Look out! El Nino is back!
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:22 pm
by octagon
whojamfan wrote:I spend most of my time in my truck driving cross country, and I've been from snow to rain to blistering heat all in one day. I live in my truck when I'm out, and have been through tornados, hail, whiteouts-you name it. Even parked, these puppies can rock very substantially in a moderate wind, and feel like they are going to tip over in a heavy one. I understand just what you're saying Kira.
Are ya willin' ?
Re: Look out! El Nino is back!
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:27 pm
by Tarrbot
I got caught in an El Nino hailstorm between Phoenix and the California border on my BSA once; hail really hurts!
If it's any consolation, sleet doesn't feel any better.
What BSA do you have? I love the Brit bikes. I miss my chopped Bonneville.
Re: Look out! El Nino is back!
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:27 pm
by Tarrbot
I almost forgot. This was my introduction to Mother Nature. April 10, 1979, Wichita Falls, TX. What they called Terrible Tuesday.
3 tornados converged just south of the city and combined to make one large massive upper F4 tornado that ripped through the city. The base was over a mile wide, from what I remember. I could be remembering incorrectly though.
However, looking at pictures (and I still can't find the one that made the paper that day taken from atop the newspaper's building), you can see how vicious this thing looked.
Oddly enough, only 45 people were killed.
Surprising given the technology of the day didn't give much warning to anyone.
Re: Look out! El Nino is back!
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:37 pm
by jimk
collin wrote:
Total Side note : Lawrence is cool in my book (other than for the inimitable Jim Krause residing there ! ) because it was also home to famed Beat author William S. Burroughs in his later years.
You wanna know the truth? If it weren't for Lawrence, a cultural oasis in the midst of the Great American Desert, I'd have left years ago and gone back home to the Left Coast. Lawrence isn't bad, but it's no Portland.
JimK
Re: Look out! El Nino is back!
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:27 pm
by collin
jimk wrote:
collin wrote:
Total Side note : Lawrence is cool in my book (other than for the inimitable Jim Krause residing there ! ) because it was also home to famed Beat author William S. Burroughs in his later years.
You wanna know the truth? If it weren't for Lawrence, a cultural oasis in the midst of the Great American Desert, I'd have left years ago and gone back home to the Left Coast. Lawrence isn't bad, but it's no Portland.
JimK
hmm, I'd love to visit one day. I have heard that is mysteriously culuturally diverse, compared to most other areas of Kansas.....kinda like Austin is to Texas.
Portland is pretty cool, if you can ignore all the strip clubs (unless that's your thing!)
Re: Look out! El Nino is back!
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:03 pm
by jimk
Yeah, if you insist on living in good ol' Kansas, Lawrence is most definitely the place to be; all the coffee you can guzzle, one of the best microbreweries between St. Louis and Denver (maybe the entire midwest) not to mention the home of the Americana Music Academy, Lawrence's answer to the Chicago Old Town School of Folk Music. It's a start.
JimK